face-to-face

adverb or adjective

ˈfās-tə-ˈfās 

1

: within each other's sight or presence

met and talked face-to-face

a face-to-face consultation

2

: in or into direct contact or confrontation

came face-to-face with the problem

Synonyms of face-to-face

• personally

Examples of face-to-face in a Sentence

I won't believe that accusation until I meet with him face-to-face and ask him myself

came face-to-face with her lifelong fear of flying even before the plane left the runway

Recent Examples on the Web

The movie was featured this past weekend at Prime Video’s all-day inaugural immersive event Obsessed Fest which brought fans face-to-face with the stars, creators and worlds behind the most buzzworthy YA, romance and book adaptation titles. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 29 June 2026

Although the pair have never met face-to-face, the American has been happy to lend some advice over the years via private messages. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

The private meeting lasted 55 minutes and marked their first face-to-face conversation in 19 months. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026

Before that, the Duke of Sussex hadn’t seen his father face-to-face since February 2024, the same month the monarch announced his cancer diagnosis. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for face-to-face

• aromatase
• oligoclase
• plagioclase
• polymerase
• streptokinase
• triphosphatase
• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace

Kids Definition

face-to-face

adverb or adjective

ˌfās-tə-ˈfās

1

: within each other's close presence

met face-to-face

2

: in or into direct contact or confrontation

face-to-face with a crisis